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Excellent post. If more people did their research before buying the "designer dogs" maybe there wouldn't be such a market for them. Like this poster says it is not because they are not cute but look at what breeds and characteristics are being crossed. Crossing stubborn with stubborn as in this case of the puggle seems like a puppy that is doomed from the start with an unsuspecting family.

Mary-owned by Maya, Scout, Jazz and Sassy
Annie at the bridge 3/13
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance......

The Nashville news just did a little bit about the "new breed" that was "taking the dog world by storm." They said they sell for $600 -$900, and the smaller they are, the higher. They announced this on the news. I wish the AKC would start a campaign to inform the public about good breeding practices.

A rescue friend and I were talking about the whole area of breeding last night -- about how so many people just do not know any better and think that breeding dogs involves little more that putting a male and female together. There's little understanding of the purebred world -- that all purebreds come from narrowed gene pools, all come with some sort of health issues as a result, and that breeding is really an art of carefully selecting pedigrees and qualities of the individual dog. To me the amount a good breeder must know is extraordinary -- you can really understand the importance of good mentors and staying on top of breed developments via the show world and breed clubs.

I think the commercialisation of breeding, and the desire of unskilled dog owners "to make back what they paid" for their dog by breeding a few litters, is what is causing a severe decline in the quality of so many breeds. I've talked to a fair few breed club people for different breeds through rescue, and all say the same thing -- 20 years ago it was almost unknown for their breed to have this problem or that -- ESPECIALLY serious temperament issues showing up in young puppies, requiring them to be pts, the latter a very worrying development in breeds like labs, old English sheepdogs, St Bernards for example. Labs! What used to be one of the friendliest of breeds...

Those who buy these designer crossbreeds are unaware that NO good breeder with healthy dogs would be crossing breeds in this way -- thus not only are you likely to get a stubborn puggle, but a combination of the health issues of both. It is interesting to read the posts responding to the original link she links to in her comments. One person points out that while the puggle pictured is cute, that they have seen some really ugly ones and also some of horrible temperament for all the reasons described.

There are so many needy crossbreeds that are adorable in every pound, shelter and rescue, every day -- a much better choice than paying $1000 for a crossbreed!!

Cross breeding

A number of months ago, one of our local puppy-selling pet shops phoned me to come in and see their "new" cross-bred of Cavaliers/Poodles - "Cavapoos". The owner knew I had cavaliers, so she wanted me to see them. Actually, they weren't very cute, but they were really selling the 'cavalier temperament/poodle no-shedding' billing at a mere $700 each! I did ask how the breeder happened to cross these two breeds - according to the pet shop owner it was just a test to see what the results would be. I told the owner she needed to know that a reputable Cavalier breeder would never just cross his cavalier to see 'what he would get'. Made me so mad!